I think we have our first nomination for dumb campaign comment of the year. Let’s look at it first:
Briggs said with him becoming mayor, and the Democrats maintaining their majority in the Common Council, the Democrats would be able to control appointments to the city’s commissions, “so we can get things done.”
So Walter Birggs thinks all the current commisioners aren’t “doing anything” I’m sure that will come as quite the surprise to all the volunteers who serve on boards and commissions. Maybe this was a self depracating statement from Briggs, since he too, serves on a commision. In fact, when I think about it, what has the planning commission done in the years since he’s been on it?
Briggs would like you to think that he’s been slaving away on the master plan of conservation and development all these years, but in reality hired guns, or more commonly known as consultants wrote the plan. And it took six long years. Talk about not getting things done.
Briggs of course didn’t elaborate on which things he might be thinking about when he says things aren’t getting done. That would be a good series of questions to ask the wannabe mayor as he works his way through the election.
He claims he wants to move Norwalk forward. From what? Rehashing Alex Knopp’s campaign slogans shows that he’s a plagiarist more than an original thinker.
He claims to be in favor of affordable housing, yet doesn’t manage to mention that the people who raised their kids here, are being taxed out of Norwalk, along with the people who were raised here.
And the great majority of the people who serve on our city commissions just happen to be the many of the same people who raised their families in Norwalk and now worry about living on fixed incomes and being able to afford to continue living in Norwalk and serving the community.
I’m sure other candidates will manage to make some clunker comments like this. But Briggs has really set the bar high on dissing the very people who care enough about Norwalk to actually volunteer their time to get things done.
NORWALK — Walter Briggs says becoming mayor would give him the opportunity to implement the master plan for the city he led through development for five years as chairman of the Planning Commission. And having overseen the plan’s preparation, Briggs says, “I think I know better than anyone how to move Norwalk forward.
Briggs spoke Saturday afternoon at a gathering of Democratic candidates and their supporters at the home of Bill and Regina Krummel on Little Fox Lane.
Bill Krummel and Brigg’s wife, Gwen L. Briggs, are both seeking reelection to the Common Council from District E. Briggs is challenging Republican Mayor Richard A. Moccia, who is seeking a second two-year term.
Commenting on being able to work together with his wife if he becomes mayor, Briggs said, “I think we’ll make a great team for the City of Norwalk.Before moving to Connecticut in 1975, Briggs, 72, lived in Michigan, where he was city manager of Bloomfield Hills. Briggs said not having lived in Norwalk his entire life was a benefit because, “I think it’s time to get new thinking into the city.”
Briggs said with him becoming mayor, and the Democrats maintaining their majority in the Common Council, the Democrats would be able to control appointments to the city’s commissions, “so we can get things done.”
Otherwise, he said, the city could “return to the past, to some type of government we had in the days of the Esposito administration, when things just slowed or ground to a halt.”
The Democrats hold 10 seats in the City Council, to the Republicans five. Mayor Frank Esposito was the city’s longest serving mayor at 14 years. He was defeated in 2001 by Democrat Alex Knopp.
Briggs said as mayor he would get developers to use “green technology,” and would support mixed use developments that don’t “crowd out the city.”
The city also needs more affordable housing, said Briggs, so people raised here can stay here.
As mayor, Briggs said he’d have an “open-door” policy for the public at City Hall, although “I may not agree with you.’
Following Briggs remarks, city resident Nicole Potts said she thought he has the “heart and passion” to lead the city.
Referring to Briggs’ years on the Planning Commission, resident Scott Kimmich said he looked forward to new development in the city, and “thank God we have the man who planned that with us.”
Briggs resides in Rowayton. He works as an investment advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, in Darien, and said he will be taking some time off for his campaign. If elected mayor, he has said he will take a leave of absence from the firm.
Other candidates for office at the get together were incumbents Jody Bishop-Pullan, chairman of the Board of Education, and Andy Garfunkel, Town Clerk.
source: The Hour, Briggs’ campaign kicks off with barbeque, By HAROLD F. COBIN, September 16, 2007
who hijack threads and not wait for open ones and simply bring there agenda out here we have postings from all over no one is checked at the door. Island hoppers (MV) to street people to execs ect.
